V-block formations



Nov. 27, 1956 N. s. BLocKsAGE 2,771,822

" V-BLQCK FORMATIONS Filed Nov. 3, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l P M/,Mr

f TEW/7 N0 27, 1956 N. s. BLocKsAGE; 2,771,822

V-BLOCK FORMATIONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 3, 1953 INVENTUR UnitedStates Patent i V-BLOCK FORMATIONS Norman S. Blocksage, Westmount,Weston, Ontario, Canada Application November 3, 1953, Serial No. 390,037

11 Claims. (Cl. 90-59) This invention relates to improvements in devicesof the nature of V-blocks, parallels and the like used in supporting,locating, inspecting and measuring work in machine practice, and moreparticularly to an improved V-block.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a V-block which willbe adjustable in height so that the necessity of stacking parallelsbeneath the V-block to get the proper height adjustment is eliminated,thereby providing a very important saving in time and greatlyfacilitating handling of the block and stock with which it is beingused.

A further important object is to provide an adjustable -V-block asaforesaid which will be continuously adjustable over a wide range ofadjustment so that it may be set at precisely the height desired, and toprovide an arrangement whereby the work or stock to be held can besecurely clamped to the V-block with the block at any position in itsrange of adjustment.

Another important object is to provide a V-block which can also functionas an adjustable parallel for use in setting up and inspection to againprovide a very material and important saving in time and to facilitatesuch work.

Still another object is to provide a V-block which will enable roundstock to be quickly set up and securely held for end tapping anddrilling, eliminating the present improvising required andunsatisfactory results obtained.

Again an important object is to provide a block which will enableprefabricating and T-welding to be quickly and easily carried out whileensuring complete accuracy in the angular relation of the parts.

Still a further object is to provide a V-block as aforesaid ofeconomical and practical construction which can be adjusted very easilyand quickly so that work can be conveniently adjusted to the setting ofa drill press or other machine tool or the like rather than requiringthe adjustment of the setting of the tool as in present cases, whichtool adjustment again usually requires considerable time and care.

One important feature of the invention resides in providing a pair ofco-operating members or block portions which define a V therebetween andwhich are relatively movable to alter the position of the apex of the Vto enable the position of a piece of work or stock adapted to besupported in the V to be adjusted as desired.

More particularly the invention resides in forming the V-block as onemember or block portion having an inclined face or surface and arranginga second member or rice 2 to include an arm adapted to move inparallelism with a base or supporting surface of the first memberthroughout its travel so that the V-block also constitutes an adjustableparallel.

Another feature of importance resides in forming the clamping device asa support structure carrying a clamping member, the support structurehaving two sets of arms or support formations, one set to engage andsupport the clamping device from the slide and the other set havingl pinprojections riding in slots or grooves extending along the inclined faceof the first block member or portion to enable the clamp device tofollow movement of the slide and locate the clamping member opposite tothe apex of the V formed between the slide and first block memberregardless of the position of the slide.

A further feature resides in hinging the arms to enable the clamp deviceto be released from the members. Again a feature resides in forming theparallel arm of the slide with grooves so that the clamp can be used inco-operation with the slide arm only to clamp work thereto.

Still a further feature resides in forming the first member as a rightangled A with the hypotenuse forming the inclined surface and the sidesforming the right angle forming mounting sides for supporting the slidearm in a horizontal position for use of the device as a parallel and forsupporting the slide arm in a vertical position for holding work for endtapping.

These and other objects and features will become apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which,

Figure l is a plan view of an adjustable V-block and parallelconstructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the device of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the device of Figure l showingthe clamping device in open position in dotted lines illustrating themanner in which it may be released from the block.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing vthe slide member ina different position of adjustment, part of the slide and stationarymember being broken away to illustrate the locking action of the slide.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the device employed to supportstock for end tapping or drilling.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a small perspective view of the slide.

Figure 8 is a perspective view illustrating the use of a pair of blocksconstructed in accordance with the invention for supporting a shaft, theclamps being omitted.

Figure 9 is a side elevational view illustrating the use of the devicein carrying out the formation of a T-joint.

With reference particularly to Figures l to 4, the adjustable blockillustrated comprises a triangular frame 1 forming one member or portionof the block and a slide 2 forming another portion or member of theblock.

The triangular frame l has two sides 3 and 4 which define a right angleItherebetween7 with the remaining side 5 forming the hypotenuse. Thusthe frame 1 constitutes a right angled triangle, and preferably rarightangled isosceles triangle.

Each of the sides 3, 4 'and 5 is provided with a slot, sides 3 and 4having slots 6 to rece-ive clamping bolts l'7, Figures 4 and 5, toenable the frame to be clamped to a table or other support surface S.

The hypotenuse 5 has a slot 9 to receive the clamping bolt or pin lll ofthe slide 2, hereinafter more particu larly described.

The slide 2 is arranged to slide on the face 11 of the hypotenuse 5 ofthe triangle, and extending adjacent and parallel to the face l1 on eachside of the member 3 1 is a groove 12, or the .grooves 12 may connect toform a slot.

A scale indicated at 13 is disposed between the grooves 12 and the face11.

The slide 2 has a base portion 14 which rides on the face 11 and which,as best shown in Figures 4 and 7, preferably presents a key 15 adaptedto ride in the slot 9 to guide the slide 2. The slide 2 is provided witha laterally extending arm 16 reinforced by a rib 17 extend ing beneaththe arm 16 to the base 14.

The upper face of the arm 16 indicated at 18 is arranged to extend andl-ie precisely parallel with the bottom face 19 on the side 3 of thetriangular frame 1 and hence precisely at right angles to the face 20 ofthe side 4 of the triangle.

Extending between the upper face 18 of the arm 16 and the bottom face ofthe base 14 of the slide is a face 21 which forms the end of the slideface 14, and this face or surface 21 is precisely perpendicular to theface 11 of the hypotenuse of the triangular frame, being oppo sitelyinclined to the latter face to dene therewith a V.

The apex 22 of the V will be located at a point on the scale 13corresponding to the position of the slide 2, and as will be seen fromFigures 2 and 4, may be varied at will along the scale 13 as the slide 2is moved up or dow-n the face 11 of the hypotenuse of the triangle.

The locking device for locking the slide 2 in desired .position ofadjustment on the face 11 of the triangle is best illustrated in Figures4 and 6. This device comprises a pin 23 operating in a bore 24 extendingtransversely of the slide base 14 and having an eccentric portion 26operating in a central chamber 26', the pin being rotated by means of anoperator 27.

The clamping pin is provided with a sleeved head 2S within which visreceived the eccentric portion 26 of the pin 23. The lower end of thepin 10 is threaded and carries a locking nut 29 which preferably has areduced portion 30 entering the slot 9 of the hypotenuse of thetriangle.

By operation of the pin 23 through the voperator 27 the eccentric actionis adapted to move the lock nut 29 towards the inner face 31 of thehypotenuse 5 of the triangle to cla-mp the slide to the triangle and tomove away from the face 31 to release the slide for adjustment on theface 11.

-Formed at each side of the arm A16 of the slide and extending parallelvto the face 18 is a groove 32. It desired the grooves 32 couldcommunicate where .structural strength permits to form a slot throughthe arm 16.

The upper face 18 of the arm 16 is .preferably lprovided with both acentral longitudinally extending shallow deformation 33 and a transversedeformation or groove 34. The purpose of these grooves 33 and 34 willhereinafter more particularly appear.

While the V-block constituted by the triangle 1 and the slide 2 may beformed of such material as may be desired, it is preferable that they besand-cast or" spatterproof steel so that they may be used for weldingpurposes without deleterious elects, as will be more particularlypointed out in connection with Figure 9.

In conjunction with the arrangement of the triangular -frame 1 and slide2 is the clamp device 35 which enables a piece of stock 36, e. g. ashaft, to be secured in the V defined between the faces 11 and 21, asshownin Figures 2 to 4, or to beV clamped in the V-grooves 33 and 34 ofthe slide arm 16, as shown in .Figures 5 and '9.

As illustrated, the clamp device comprises a central body or spindlesupporting portion k37 which is suitably threaded to receive and coactwith a clamp 'screw BIS-having a clamping foot 39 and actuated by theoperator 40.

Pivoted on pins 41 at opposite sides of vthe spindlesupporting portion37 of the clamp are two "sets of Vairrns '42 and '43 which archdownwardly from the "centralpor- '"tioin'37 and which carry "at theirlowerends 'respectively 'pin projections L44 and 4s which engagerespectively-in the grooves 12 and 32 to support the clamping devicefrom the triangle 1 and slide 2.

It will be noted that the 'axes of the pins 41, on which the arms 42 and43 are pivoted, extend parallel to the arm 16 of the slide, so thatunder the reactive thrust imparted, as the clamping foot 39 of the clampscrew 38 engages the stock or work '36 exerts an upward pressure on thecentral portion 37 of the clamp device, there will be no force acting toopen or spread the arms from their solid line 'to their dotted lineposition as shown in Figure 3. Rather the force acting upwardly on thecentral clamp portion 37 will act to more securely anchor the pins 44and 4S of the arms 42 and 43 in their respective slots or grooves 1'2and 32.

Suitable springs 46 are provided to maintain the arms 42 and 43 in theirclosed position of Figure 3 when the clamping foot 39 of the clamp iswithdrawn from the work 36 to eliminate the reactive thrust on thecentral portion of the vclamp 37.

The fact that the clamp device 35 will maintain its clamping positionfor any position of the slide 2 can best be explained in connection withFigure 4, .As shown in .this figure, the pins 45 of the arms 43 areagainst the inner ends Vof the Agrooves 32 in the slide arm 16. The pins44 ofthe arms 42 project into the grooves 1.2 at a point rapproximatelyaligned with the grooves 32.

Under the reactive thrust on the central or body portion 37 of the clampas the clamp screw 38 clamps the stock 36 in the V the central clampportion 37 is urged upwardly imparting a tendency through the dependingarms 42 and 43 to reduce the spacing between the pins 44 and v45, thatis, to draw these pins together. As the pins 4'45 are -at the inner endsof the grooves 32 their position is iixed `and to decrease .theseparation between the pins 44 and 4S the pins 44 would have to traveldown the grooves 12 and not `up the grooves, `as would on '.lrstconsideration appear. However, since the arms 42 and :43 are rigid .andIthe. spacing .of .the pins 44 and l45 iixed and-since the ;pins 44cannot .move down the `'grooves .12 without bringing the central clampportion 37 closer to .the work against .the reactive thrust .of theclamp screw, the pins 44 .maintain a xed position in the .grooves .12corresponding to the position of the slide It will .be noted that withthe locking action afforded by the .pin 23 .and clamping bolt 10,clamping the 'slide 2 to the hypotenuseS of the triangular frame with aneccentric locking action, the location 'of the lock `may Ybe madecentrally between the upper end or face 21 of the slide and the lowerend of the slide indicated at 47. That is, by providing the side actionlock operated from the side, the lock can be sorcentrally locatedwithout interference with the slide arm 16. In this way effectiveclamping between the'slideand triangle fmay Abe `obtained with uniformclamping forcezbeing appliedadjacent the slide ends 21 and 47 toeliminate any .rocking of the slide under clamping action.

-Inuse a set ofthe blocks maybe employed, as illus- 4trated .in Figure.8, to support the stock or lshaft 36, with Atheheight of the stockabove-the supporttable orsurface being determined by the positionof the.apex.22.of :the Vs. Such support of the stockmay .be for the purpose ofmeasuring, inspecting or ractuallyworkingl on thestock, and ofcoursertheclamps, which .areomitted .'froinFigure 8, lwill.securelyihold theIstockiin 'positionzon the Veblocks.

lAlternatively,las shown .1in Figure i5, .the clamp device 35 may beremoved .from 4the triangular -.frame 1 '.by .spreading :the .sets Vofyarms 42 .and l43, asi'shown inFigure 3, "and then. arranging the clampsso that all of .its;pins 44 and 45 engage in the grooves 32 of thelateral arm 1vltot-.theslide .Then Vby turning lthe .triangular iframe 1."thr'oug'hf'90 'andboltin'g it 'to lthetable f8 the 'stock r36, uponbeingintro'duced into fthefgroove T33, .is "heldin .perpendicularrelation to theitbleSf'foreend for Figure 9 illustrates the use of twoof the V-blocks to support two pieces of work in perpendiculararrangement for T-welding. The left-hand block is shown as supportingits work piece on the lateral slide arm 16 to extend in a directionaccurately parallel to the table 8, while the right-hand block issupporting its work piece 36 in a position accurately perpendicular tothe table 8 and in .abutment with the end of the other work piece. Thework pieces may then be tacked together for permanent welding in adifferent location or may be welded in situ.

It will also be appreciated that in many instances it may be convenientto clamp the work piece in the other groove 34 of the lateral arrn 16,such as when using the V-blocks as adjustable parallels.

It will be understood that various details of construction may bealtered without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A V-block comprising a member having an inclined face, a secondmember sliding on said inclined face and presenting an inclined faceforming with the aforesaid face a V, means to lock said members indesired relative positions, and clamp means having a clamping member anda support formation engaging and co-operating with the first-mentionedmembers to locate said clamping member opposite the apex of said Vindependent of the relative position of said first-mentioned members.

2. An adjustable V-block and parallel comprising, a member having asupport base and a face inclined relative to said support base, a slidesliding relative to said inclined face and presenting an inclined facedefining with the aforesaid inclined face a V and having an armextending away from said V and presenting a longitudinal upper surfacemeeting and extending from the upper edge of said inclined face andprecisely parallel to said base.

3. An adjustable work-supporting block device comprising, a supportblock portion having an accurate supporting face and an inclined faceinclined relative to said supporting face, and a slide block portionsliding on said inclined face and presenting an inclined face deningwith the aforesaid face a work-supporting V and presenting awork-supporting face meeting and extending from the upper edge of saidslide block inclined face and accurately parallel to saidfirst-mentioned supporting face and spaced therefrom according to theposition of said slide block portion on the inclined face of saidsupport block portion, means for locking said slide block portion indesired position on the inclined face of said support block portion, andmeans for clamping a piece of work in position relative to said blockportions comprising a clamp member and a support formation adapted toengage and cooperate with said support block portion and :said slideblock portion to locate said clamping member opposite the apex of said Vindependent of the relative position of said support block and slideblock portions.

4. An adjustable V-block or the like comprising, a :support blockportion having an inclined face, and av slide 'block portion sliding onsaid face and presenting an infclined face defining with theaforesaidtface a V, a slot -at each side of the inclined face of saidsupport block portion extending parallel to said latter inclined face,.a clamp device having a support structure provided with pin projectionsriding in said slots, and means engaging said slide block portion, and aclamp member disposed `opposite to and movable towards and from the apexof rsaid V adapted to clamp a work piece in said V, said pin projectionsriding in said slots upon movement of said slide to maintain said clampmember opposite to the apex of said V.

5. An adjustable V-block comprising, a right angled triangular memberadapted to be mounted on either of the sides defining the right angle ona support surface, a slide sliding on the hypotenuse of said member andpresenting a face defining with said hypotenuse a V, the position of theapex of which is variable along said hypotenuse upon movement of saidslide, means for clamping said slide in adjusted position on saidhypotenuse, said triangular member having groove means extending alongsaid hypotenuse, and a clamp having a body portion through which ascrew-threaded clamping member is adapted to operate towards and fromthe apex of said V and a pair of opposed support portions, one to engagesaid slide and the other carrying pin means engaging in said groovemeans, said groove means locating said pin means under reactive thrustimparted to said clamp body portion under clamping of a work piece insaid V to support said screw-threaded clamping member directly oppositethe apex of said V independent of the position of said slide on saidhypotenuse.

6. An adjustable V-block and parallel comprising a right-angledtriangular block member adapted to be mounted on either of the sidesdefining the right angle, `a slide sliding on the hypotenuse of saidblock member and presenting a face forming with said hypotenuse a V,said slide having an arm presenting a face parallel to one of the sidesof said triangular block member defining said right angle, means forlocking said slide in desired position of adjustment on said hypotenuseto vary the distance of the apex of said V and said latter face fromsaid latter side, said triangular block member being formed with groovesextending on each side thereof parallel to said hypotenuse, and a clampcomprising a central body portion through which operates a workclampingmember, a support formation engaging and supporting said body portionfrom said slide, and a support formation comprising a pair of armscarrying pin projections riding in said grooves to follow movement ofsaid slide and supporting said body portion from said triangular member.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 in which said clamp support formationscomprise two sets of paired arms pivoted to opposite sides of saidcentral body portion to swing about axes extending in the direction ofsaid slide arm, two corresponding arms of said sets forming saidpin-carrying arms supporting said clamp from said triangular member andthe other two corresponding arms carrying pin projections, and saidslide having recess means to receive said latter pin projections, saidsets of arms being swingable to an open position to release said clampfrom said triangular member and slide.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 in which said slide is formed withgrooves extending parallel to and at opposite sides of said facepresented by said arm, said latter grooves forming said recess means,and said latter face is formed with groove means and the pin projectionsof said two sets of paired arms are adapted to engage in said grooves atopposite sides of said arm to support said clamp from said arm isposition to clamp a piece of work thereto.

9. An adjustable V-blocl; or the like comprising, a pair of relativelymovable members presenting oppositely inclined faces defining a Vtherebetween, means for locking said movable members in desired relativeposition, one of said members having groove means extending parallel toits inclined face, and clamp means having a central work-clamping screwsupport through which a clamp screw operates carried on depending armmeans supporting said clamp from said members with said clamping screwopposite the apex of said V, said arm means including an arm formationcarrying pin means engaging in the groove means of said grooved member,and an arm formation engaging the other of said members.

l0. A V-block comprising a pair of relatively movable members defining aV therebetween, with the apex thereof varying with relative movement ofsaid members,

and a clamping device comprising a support structure including a pair ofdepending legs engaging each of said relatively movable members with atleast one pair of legs being supported en one of said members forsliding movement along one face of the V defined between said membersupon relative movement of said members, and a clamping member disposedby virtue of the sliding lof said legs opposite the apex of said Vindependent of the relative position of said relatively movable members.

1l. A V-block comprising a pair of relatively movable members presentingfaces delining a V tierebetween, means for locking said members indesired relative position to locate the apex of said V, and a clampingdevice comprising a support structure including a pai-r of dependinglegs engaging eachiof said relatively movable members with atv least one'pair of legs 'boing supp'rted on one of said members for `slidingmovement along one face of the V defined between said members uponlrela'- tive movement of sa-id members, and a `clampingmember disposed byvirtue of the sliding of Asaid legs :opposite the apex .of said kVindependent .of the relative position of said relatively movablemembers.

1,040,714 Schamel 9er. 8, 19712

